Birchbox August 2015

What's in 
the box?

Birchbox came in so early this month - I think I got it on the 11th.  It has been doing that the last couple months and I am thrilled - there is quite a drought the last week of the month till the boxes start arriving.  

If you have followed my blog, you know I am a fan of BB - mainly because I love getting rewarded for doing reviews and little things like posting on social media sites.  No one else rewards you like BB does - you are earning actual points to turn into cash in their online store.  This online store is fantastic - if you want to save up for a makeup item, have at it!  If you want to just save a little every time you order, that is your choice too!  Love the flexibility!   I have never had points expire - mainly because I love to shop in there and if I can save $10 on my order right then, I do! 

This month's theme was Soak It Up, summer, of course!  The box looks like a cute pool.  It is not my favorite art work for a BB, but it was right on point for the time of year.

 

A nice thing about BB is that they always include an information card.  It addresses every item in the box, the full size value and sometimes a nice tip or bonus about your item. 

 

Dr Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask - ($6) I am not a big fan of sheet masks.  I would rather have a mask that you apply - probably because I do not want to lay down to keep the mask on.  I have other stuff to keep doing lol.  I swapped this with a fellow BB subscriber.  I love my Perfectly Posh face masks, I rarely buy any for myself anywhere else.

  

St Tropez Gradual Tan in Shower - (full size $25)  I do not know what BB was thinking when they sent this out to the pale, red haired girl in my profile.  I really look kind of funny with a fake tan.  I do not tan naturally - I go from pasty pale white to lobster red and back to an off white that is not tan.  I passed this on to my swap buddy.

  

Oribe Masque for Beautiful Color -  (full size $59) Looking at this price tag, I will probably never get the full sized one unless I manage to hoard my BB points, so it was nice to get a great size sample.  This smells amazing!  I am waiting to try till after I color but I am excited about it!

  

theBalm cosmetics Balm Desert Bronzer/Blush -  (full size $21)  This is the tiniest sample ever!  Like I think the actual product is the size of a dime - small! I do not know what theBalm has against samples - all their pressed samples are like this - the lip products are a nice sample size.  I will probably put this up on my Pinterest swap board but if I do end up using it, it will be as a blush.  As my swap buddy says, it always looks like I just have a dirty face. I am crazy about the packaging for this brand though - and they do go up on Hautelook once in awhile so you can save money on your addiction there.  Kohl's has this brand in their cosmetics section for anyone who wants to check out in store.

 

Rusk Volumizing Mousse - (full size $18)  I do love the Rusk brand.  

 Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner for Beautiful color - (full size $14-42) This is probably the item I am most excited about trying.  I color my hair as the gray has started appearing so I want to see how this effects it.  I am saving it for right after I color - I am desperately in need of a dye job right now.  Here is the thing about foil packets - I do not mind getting them if they have resealable options.  I could get two uses out of this but I hate having them in the shower to get water in or leak out.  We have gotten some great resealable packets from Ipsy before and I loved that about them!

 So that is my Birchbox for August.  I do think my boxes are getting so much better.  My first two boxes were pretty bad.  I think as you start reviewing stuff and telling them what you like and didn't like, BB does listen to you.  This box had great value for my $10 and I look forward to earning those review points.

What did you get this month?  Did you find any holy grail products?

Saturday Steals, Deals and Box Love!

Steals, Deals, and Box Love!

Just keep entering those giveaways, Ladies and Gentleman! People do win!  I won a great giveaway by Beeju Boxes this week.  Three months of Birchbox!   I was very excited.  I have been looking for an excuse to get a second BB - and this was it!  I signed my daughter right up for her own box and used code BB50OFF to get it for $5.  I missed getting the beauty blender and cleanser for free but they will do that special again.  Just be on the lookout! 

Hautelook is another place I frequent for makeup deals and steals.  There is an app for your phone or you can visit them online.  The Urban Decay sale was kind of a bust this time.  There were 12 items and most of them were eye liners.  If you have not picked up the Pulp Fiction palette, it is on there for a good price when I looked today.  I did have great luck on theBalm sale days and ordered another group of items.  BH cosmetics was also on a few weeks ago, and I got some great deals on their palettes.

I am waiting on a few more subscription boxes for May - my daughter's Loot Crate, Lip Love by SoSusan, and Glossybox.  I am excited to see what Lip Love has in it this month.  

Little Lace Box is also sending a gift to all its subscribers this month, so I will post what they send when I receive it.  I did get my free bottle of olive oil from their coupon in the April box!  Little Lace Box is now quarterly so June is their next box too.  I am so excited I was locked in at their early price too! These boxes are now $60 - and worth every penny! Love their curations! 

I have a few quarterly boxes that will come out next month, so that is super exciting.  Style Quarterly is a new one I have signed up to check out.  I had a discount to join so that is always nice.  

I am contemplating cancelling PopSugar Must Have box.  I know!  I think I need to downsize again and this is the box that comes monthly for $40.  My quarterly boxes at the same price are blowing this box out of the water.  I will probably review June's box and decide.  The spoiler this month is a pair of Quay sunglasses.  These do retail for $50 so that is well worth my box price. 

What boxes are you waiting for this month?  Any new ones I should check out?

What I'm Lovin' Wednesday!

How 'Bout Them Apples also comes in an adorable little sample that I carry around in my purse for touch ups - lips and cheeks.  This has been my go to blush.  I love Pie.

Ipsy vs Birchbox photo is up on my Instagram and I had to give February's month to Birchbox due to the Beauty Blender.  It was so exciting to see that little pink sponge in my sub box.

So how cute is this wedding pic of Angelina and Brad?  The family pic of them is super sweet too! 

I am loving that this week is half over.  Enjoy the end of the week!

Birchbox February 2015

What's in

the box?

Birchbox came today!  I was so thrilled to get it this early!  And it is probably the best one I have ever gotten too!  This subscription is $10 month.  But the best part is the point system.  Save them up and go shop in their store.  You get points for shopping in their store, reviewing your Birchbox samples, sharing on Facebook or Twitter,  and for each box you get. The points system is 100 points = $10 in the store! 

This is the funnest box too - the color is so bright and fun!  I am saving them all up like Birchbox suggested - I think they are going to give us ideas on what to do with them.

First Look: EEK!!

BeeKind Conditioner -  ( sample - $1.87)  This is supposed to soften hair and up your shine.  It smells like lemony floral scent.  I like getting conditioners in my box but my only complaint is not getting the shampoo that goes with this.  If you get one, you should get the other! 

 Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser - ($1.63) This brand has been in a lot of subscription boxes lately but I do not have this product.  I like getting little tubes of cleanser - nice for sticking in travel bags.  I do not know if there is really enough to test this out but I  will give it a shot.  

Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Wash -  ($2.52)  This does remind me of a hotel freebie.  It has a cucumber scent though which I like.  What's funny is the link says men when you check it out in their store.  

theBalm Read My Lips in BAM! Rose pink -  ($4)  I love this brand - the packaging is so cute and the products are very nice.  This is probably the biggest lip balm I have ever received in a Birchbox too.  

Beauty Blender with solid cleanser - ($28.95)  I have been looking at this since I discovered them a few months ago and have not wanted to put out the money.  I was so thrilled when I saw my sneak peek and there it was!  And excited it included the cleanser so I can keep it sterilized.  You can also use this cleanser for makeup brushes too.

Birchbox partnered with Rent Your Runway to get us a discount too!  Of course, it is like $35 OFF when you spend $75 but some people will use it, I am sure.  You can save $25 off $50 for joining the website.

This box had a terrific value for me at $38.97.  I can also review all the products for 50 points - plus the 10 for getting the box and 10 for posting it on Facebook - so that is a total of $7.  For $10, that is a great deal!  

TheBalm from Hautelook sale!

TheBalm

Hautelook is a division of Nordstrom that does sales on products that last just a few days.  They are usually pretty good sales, sometimes as much as 50-60% off.  Kohls sells this brand if you are looking for it in your mall.  

 There were several items from this line that were on my most wanted list - the How 'Bout Them Apples has been high on the list since I got a sample of it with my Birchbox store purchase.  

How 'Bout Them Apples? - ($32 - on sale $16)  This lip and cheek cream palette is very cute and I love the packaging!  I think Pie is my favorite shade.  Love that you can use for more than one thing too.  This is really large too - so a good amount of product. 

Cindy-Lou Manizer - ($24 - on sale for $12)  This is another product I have been wanting to try since I saw it in Birchbox reviews.  So pretty and love it on!  

Nude Tude palette - ($36 - on sale for $18) I love collecting palettes and the packaging on this one is lovely!  Love the names of the colors - all start with S.  There is a mix of matte and shimmer too, but it does lean more heavily on shimmer shades.  Love the little brush and mirror that is included too - I really prefer palettes to have their own mirror at least.

Give Crease a Chance -  ($26.50 - on sale for $13)  I fell in love with double-ended makeup brushes after I got my first one in my Ipsy bag.  So when I saw the two cute ones TheBalm had, I snatched them up too.  I would never buy these at full price so I was very happy they were in the sale.

 Crease, Love, and Happiness Brush - ($24.50 - on sale for $12)  According to the website, "The larger end defines your crease and applies eye shadow, while the small end provides a soft, natural lining to your lower lashes."

 If I had bought this retail, I would have spent $143.  I got these on sale for $71 plus tax and shipping.  You can also get Hautelook as an app on your phone and they will send you e-mails to let you know what sales are coming soon.  

Friday Deals and Steals!

Friday Deals and Steals!

Hautelook has theBalm on it right now - so go on over and buy some products on sale from this great brand.

I have been wanting to try a few things from this brand and with this sale, I was able to pick them up for a great steal!  

How 'bout them apples?  is usually $32 but was on sale for $16.

I love collecting palettes the Nude'tude was on sale for $18, which is half price! 

 I have also been looking at the Manizers and picked up Cindy Lou Manizer.  This highlighter is $12 on sale, regularly $24.

Their Instain blushes are on the site too for half off.  These come in gorgeous shades.

I wish they had a better deal on their brushes - I would have loved to pick up the entire set of them.  They are so cute.

Birchbox January 2015

What's in

the box?

Birchbox finally arrived after the longest wait ever!  It ships for $10 a month and you can earn money back to spend in their store by reviewing and purchasing items.

The theme this month was Let's Do This.  The Video for this month said to keep all the boxes for ideas on what to do with them.  

First Look:

Harvey Prince Sincerely -    I usually like the Harvey Prince fragrances and this is no exception.  It is a very nice, subtle scent.  

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream -   ($18)  This is a great size sample and I was very happy with it.  I love getting eye creams in my boxes since I use them every night.

theBalm Stainiac -   (full size $17)  I was thrilled with this sample - I love theBalm brand and have seen this in other people's boxes.  A great lip product! 

Whish Three Whish Body Butter in lavendar - (~$4) I really do not like lavendar scent so this will get passed on to one of my sister's who loves it.  I think if I had gotten a different scent, I would have been fine with it.   I will have to try it in Almond or Lemongrass.  

No. 4 Non Aerosol Hair Spray -  ( ~$5)  I really like this brand and love the Prep Spray.   Now I have the hair spray too!  I like that it is non aerosol.  We need to discontinue using aerosols wherever we can.  

 Overall, I was very pleased with my box this month - there is only one thing that I will be passing on to someone else.  There was a nice value here as well - the eye cream alone was about twice the box.

The Birchbox Bonus buy this month was for an Every Girl Keep Not Settling bottle.  It was a great deal with the box.

Birchbox also included some free snacks and tea with my box this month.  So nice of them!